Strip coiling apparatus



Nov. 14, 1961 c. c. BLACKMAN ET Al. 3,008,663

STRIP COILING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 9, 1958 .N mm W TMM/ m E T WMBL A .II a W W M v w 4 M @2 5 Nov- 14, 1961 c. c. BLACKMAN ETAI. 3,008,663

- STRIP comm; APPARATUS Filed May 9, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. (ALVIN C BLACK/WAN 1 05527 $855115? EfiI'V/N Z lat/6 ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 14, 1961 c. c. BLACKMAN EIAI. 3,008,

STRIP COILING APPARATUS Filed May 9, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS. (AZ V/N (r aAaMA/v KOBEET J. 555/1152 EDbV/A/ z lag/G Nov. 14, 1961 c. c. BLACKMAN ETAL 3,008,663

STRIP 001mm; APPARATUS Filed May 9, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 14, 1961 c. c. BLACKMAN ET Al. 3,008,663

STRIP COILING APPARATUS Filed May 9, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ELI-l mmmw INVENTORS. (ll V/IV (Z BZACAMA/V MBEETJ Eff/WEE EDWIN T A 05/ Unite States 3,008,663 STRIP COILING APPARATUS Calvin C. Blackmail and Robert J. Beemer, Bay Village, Ohio, and Edwin T. Lorig, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignors to Lee Wilson, Cleveland, Ohio Filed May 9, 1958, Ser. No. 734,150 16 Claims. (Cl. 24267.4)

This invention relates to the coiling of strip metal, and more particularly to apparatus for uncoiling a tight wound coil into an opened coil preparatory to annealing and recoiling an opened coil back into a tight Wound coil after annealing.

In the Lee Wilson and Edwin A. Corns United States patent application Serial No. 639,939, filed February 13, 1957, there is disclosed and claimed a method of and apparatus for annealing strip metal wherein a tight wound coil as it comes from the rolling mill is recoiled into an opened coil having the laps or convolutions thereof spaced apart. In accordance with the Wilson and Corns procedure, the tight wound coil is supported with its axis vertical on a suitable turntable and is opened or uncoiled into a vertical axis opened coil on an adjacent turntable. During the opening operation, a strand or cord is wound in between the laps of the coil in order to provide the proper spacing therebetween and, after the opening operation is completed, the cord is withdrawn so that the opened coil has unimpeded passages between the laps thereof. After a coil has thus been opened, it is subjected to annealing by passing heated gaseous atmosphere vertically through the coil in contact with substantially the entire surface area of the strip therein and then passing a cooling atmosphere through the coil, thus greatly decreasing the time required for annealing, reducing annealing costs, and improving the quality of the product.

After the opened coil annealing procedure has been completed, the coils are recoiled back into tight wound formfor subsequent processing, handling, shipping, etc., and it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for forming opened coils from tight wound coils, and/or recoiling an opened coil back into a tight wound coil, whereby the tension on the strip both at the tight coil or recoiler turntable and at the opened coil or uncoiling turntable may be controlled and maintained at the desired value, which may be employed either to open a tight wound coil or to recoil an opened coil back into tight wound form, which will not subject the strip being handled to reverse or other excessive bending, and which will effect tight winding of an opened coil in such a manner that the tight wound coil will have all of the strip edges at the ends of the coil lying in sub stantially the same plane. A further object is to provide strip coiling apparatus for use in the opened coil annealing procedure which is rugged, economical to maintain, and adapted for continuous steel mill production use.

In forming an opened coil from a tight wound coil by winding in a spacer strand or cord and then withdrawing same, it is important that the tension on the strip as it is wound into opened form be maintained at or only slightly above no tension in order that the spaced strand may readily be pulled out vertically from between the laps. If too great tension is applied to the strip during the coiling operation, the spacer strand may be gripped with such force that it will be diflicult or impossible to remove same, but with our improved apparatus the tenthrough the vertical axes of the turntables T and T'.

3,008,663 Patented Nov. 14, 1961 sion may be controlled to give the desired results. Further, when recoiling an opened coil back into tight wound form, it is necessary that a high tension be imposed on the strip at the tight wound coil so that it may be recoiled back into a condition of tightness substantially the same as when it was originally coiled from the rolling mill. During the tight recoiling operation it is also important that a condition of substantially no-tension be maintained at the opened coil as otherwise the opened laps of the coil may be pulled into contact with each other with resultant slipping and possible surface marring of the strip.

Our improved apparatus achieves all of the objects and results referred to above and one embodiment thereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of vertical axis strip coiling apparatus embodying our invention, the upper guide means shown in FIGURE 6 being omitted;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1, the supporting foundations being omitted for purposes of better illustration;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the tight coil or recoiler unit, taken substantially on line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view, taken substantially on line 44 of FIGURE 1, illustrating the tension drum unit;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view, taken substantially on line 5-5 of FIGURE 1, illustrating the opened coil or uncoiler unit;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary elevational view, taken substantially on line 66 of FIGURE 1, illustrating the back-up roll;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 7-7 of FIGURE 1 and illustrating the strip engaging faces on the tension drum and back-up roll; and

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary horizontal cross-sectional view of a portion of an opened coil showing how the laps or convolutions 0f the coil are spaced apart from each other.

Referring now to the drawings, our coiling apparatus includes three main elements, the tight coil or recoiler unit A, the opened coil or uncoiler unit B and the tension drum unit C. The recoiler unit A includes a tight coil turntable T supported for rotation about a vertical axis while the uncoiler unit B includes a loose or opened coil turntable T also supported for rotation about a vertical axis. As best seen in FIGURE 1, the turntable T is smaller in diameter than the turntable T because it is intended normally only to handle hard or tight wound coils which, for a given length of strip, are smaller in diameter than the opened coils that are supported on the turntable T. It will also be noted that the vertical axes of the turntables T and T are disposed substantially as close together as possible, leaving room only for proper clearance of the turntables and support of certain safety rolls which will be later described.

The tension drum unit C includes a tension drum generally indicated at D supported for rotation about a vertical axis. The disposition of the axis of drum D relative to the axes of turntables T and T is such that the three axes are arranged in the form of an acute triangle, Le, a triangle each angle of which is less than the axis of drum D being disposed in spaced relation to a line drawn In order to shorten the path of travel of the strip between the turntables T and T as much as possible, the axis of the drum D is so disposed that the face of the drum is closely adjacent to the outer edge of turntable T (see FIG- URE 1).

The structural arrangements of each of the units A, B and C will be described more in detail later, but it may be pointed out now that the turntable T of unit A is driven by a reversible electrical motor M, the turntable T of unit B is driven by a reversible electrical motor M, and the tension drum D of unit C is driven by a reversible electrical motor M. These motors are provided with suitable speed control means and reversing switches G, G and G" which are not illustrated in detail as they may be of any suitable and well-known type. The diameter of the drum D, and its surface contact with a strip S, which as seen in FIGURE 1 may be considered as being recoiled from an open coil E into a tight coil F, are such that there will be substantially no slippage of the strip on the drum D. Thus the speed of rotation of drum D will determine the lineal speed of travel of the strip, and the tension in the strip S between drum D and turntable T will be determined by the amount of braking action exerted by one motor relative to the pull exerted on the strip by the other. In like manner the relative torques of the drum D and the turntable T will determine the tension in the strip S between drum D and the turntable T.

Accordingly, by adjusting the drive of motor M to rotate drum D to give the desired lineal speed of travel to the strip, and then controlling the rotation of the turntables T and T, in accordance with variations in the outside diameter of the coils thereon, to maintain the desired tension in the strip between said turntables and the drum D, the proper operating conditions may readily be obtained. Of course, as the coils on the turntables T and T' increase or diminish in outside diameter, the speed of rotation of the turntables will have to be modified to maintain a constant tension condition between the particular turntable and the drum D. This control may be effected by mechanical means for operating the motor control device whereby as the coil diameter increases the speed of rotation of the turntable correspondingly decreases, and vice versa, or by other suitable means such as an optical or light beam system for constantly measuring the diameter of the coil and varying the motor control accordingly.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the tight coil or recoiler unit A. This unit includes the turntable T which is secured to and carried by rotatable sleeve 1. An outer stationary supporting sleeve 2 is mounted on the foundation and suitable bearings 3 and 4 rotatably support the sleeve 1 and turntable T and support the weight thereof and of the coil on the turntable T. A ring gear 5 is secured to the base plate 6 of turntable T and is engaged by a driving pinion 7 which is driven by motor M through the right angle drive gear box 8 and coupling 9. Carried by and projecting upwardly from the top of turntable T is a collapsible and retractable mandrel 10 adapted to be collapsed to permit a tight coil to be placed thereover and then expanded into engagement with the center wall of the coil to properly locate the coil on the turntable. When an opened coil is to be recoiled into a tight coil, the end of the strip is secured in a suitable and well-known type of strip gripper 10 incorporated in the mandrel 10 so that the proper tension may be imposed on the strip during the recoiling operation. The entire mandrel 10 may also be retracted or pulled down into the rotatable sleeve 1 so that it does not project above the top face of turntable T. The mandrel retracting -and extending operations are effected by an elongated cylinder 11 in which a plunger secured to the mandrel 10 travels. The collapsing and retracting of mandrel 10 are accomplished by compressed air or hydraulic pressure conducted through suitable conduits 13 and a rotating seal unit 12. The working floor tended to extend to and include any such material.

level of the strip coiling apparatus is indicated at L in the several figures, and it will be observed that the driving and mandrel operating mechanisms for the unit A are set in wells or pits below the floor level. In like manner, it will later be seen that the driving mechanisms for the turntable T and the tension drum D are also mounted below the floor level L.

The supporting and driving means for the turntable T of the opened coil or uncoiler unit B are generally similar to those just described in referring to the tight coil unit A. As best seen in FIGURES 1 and 5, the turntable T has a top coil supporting face 18 and a base plate portion 19 spaced therebelow. Radial slots or troughs 20 are provided in the upper face 18 to accommodate lifting bars that may be employed to transfer the coils to and from the turntable T. Coil handling apparatus wherein such bars are employed is described and claimed in the copending United States application of Calvin C. Blackman and Robert J. Beemer Serial No. 701,092, filed December 6, 1957. Similar slots 20 are provided in the top face of turntable T as is seen in FIGURES l and 3 although, with the retractable mandrel 10 and tight coils, other types of coil lifting apparatus may be employed to load and unload turntable T with tight coils.

Turntable T is secured to and supported on a rotatable sleeve 21 which in turn is carried by bearings 22 and 23 mounted in the outer stationary sleeve 24. The ring gear 25 is secured to the turntable T and is driven by a pinion 26 which in turn is rotated by the reversible motor M through coupling 27 and right angle gear box 28. At the center of turntable T is an upwardly projecting collapsible, but not retractable, mandrel and strip gripper 29 which rotates with turn-table T and is adapted to be operated by an air or hydraulic cylinder means 30 supported within the inner sleeve 21. Actuating pressure is conducted to cylinder 30 through rotatable seal 31 and supply pipes 32 and 33. The operation of mandrel 29 will be explained when the loose coiling and tight coiling procedures are explained later in this specification.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 4, tension drum unit C includes a supporting frame or housing 37 having four vertical columns 38, 39, 40 and 41 extending upwardly above the floor level L. A top plate 42, provided with radially extending stiffener webs 43, is carried on said columns and supports at the center thereof a bearing 44 for the upper end of the tension drum shaft 45. Adjacent its lower end the shaft 45 is supported by a bearing 46 carried by four inwardly extending struts 47 secured to the housing 37. The bearings 44 and 46 maintain the shaft 45 in vertical position and also absorb downward thrust thereon and prevent vertical movement thereof. Below the bearing 46 is a coupling 48 connecting shaft 46 to the vertically upwardly extending output shaft 49 of right angle gear box 50*. Motor M drives shaft 45 through another coupling 51, gear box 50, shaft 49 and coupling 48. The tension drum D includes top and bottom webs 52 and 53 and a center web 53', all of which are secured to and support a tubular outer metal sleeve 54. Secured to and extending around the bottom part of sleeve 54 is an outwardly extending flange 55 and the outer face of sleeve 54, above flange 55, is covered by a facing 56 of rubber or other suitable resilient material having the general properties of rubber. Where the term rubber is used in this specification and claims it is in- To facilitate feeding a strip around the drum D, a curved guide plate 57 (seen in dotted lines in FIGURE 1) is supported by the housing H closely adjacent, but spaced from, the outer face of the drum D around that portion of the circumference thereof which is engaged by the strip being handled.

A rotary brush 58 is supported in suitable bearings in the housing H and is driven by a chain 59' from a suitable sprocket at the upper end of drum shaft 45. This brush 58 engages the rubber facing 56 and rotates continously thereagainst during operation of the appa ratus. Its function is to remove any dirt or foreign matter which may collect on the face of the drum and thus avoid marking or injuring the surface of the strip passing over the drum.

As seen in FIGURES 1 and 6, a narrow faced back-up roll 60 is suitably supported for free rotation about a vertical axis. This roll 60 engages the outer surface of the strip S approximately at the point of tangency of the strip with the face of tension drum D on the side of the opened coil turntable T. The upper and lower bearings for the roll 60 are mounted in blocks 61 which are adapted to be simultaneously moved radially inwardly or outwardly in the support frame 62 by adjusting screw means 63 so that the engagement of the back-up roll 60 with the strip S may be varied.

As seen in FIGURE 6, although the overall height of back-up roll 60 is approximately equal to the height of the strip engaging face 56 of drum D, only the center portion 64 of roll 60 engages the strip. This center portion 64 is of slightly larger diameter than the main body of back-up roll 60 and is preferably also of rubber or the like material of the same type used for the facing 56 of tension roll D.

In order to assist in maintaining the strip S in a. vertical plane as it approaches or leaves the tension drum D between said drum and the opened coil turntable T, two pairs of vertical guide rolls 65 and 66 (seen in FIG- URE 1) are supported on the support frame 37 of the tension drum unit C. Each of the rolls making up the pairs 65 and 66 has a vertical length equal to or slightly greater than the vertical length of the strip engaging face of drum D. The axes of these guide rolls 65 and 66 are vertical, and the rolls of each pair engage the strip on opposite sides, thus effectively holding the strip in a vertical plane at a point closely adjacent to the tension drum D.

Around the outer circumference of the opened coil turntable T are a plurality of idler safety rolls 67 supported for free rotation about vertical axes on stationary frames or brackets 68 which are preferably mounted on the floor. These idler safety rolls 67 need be of a length only about the same as their diameter and are effective to prevent the strip from running oif over the edge of the turntable T during coiling operations.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view through a portion of an opened coil and is included merely to illustrate how the laps or convolutions 69 thereof are spaced apart by gaps or spaces 70. As shown, the width of the gaps 70' is substantially equal to the gauge or thickness of the strip '69 but the width of these gaps may be varied within a considerable range as is more fully explained in said copending Wilson and Corns patent application Serial No. 639,939.

In the handling of annealed strip, particularly in the heavier gauges, it is important that the strip not be reversely bent from the direction in which it was originally coiled and that, in any event, it be bent to the smallest possible extent during the coiling operations. The reason for this is that reverse or excessive bending of the strip may produce bend marks or other damage which is undesirable. Furthermore, it is important that, when an opened coil is recoiled into a tight or hard coil for sub sequent processing, etc., the edges of the laps at the ends of the coil all lie in substantially the same plane. If this is not the case, and if certain laps project beyond the adjacent laps, injury to the strip edges may occur during handling of the coil in succeeding operations.

Accordingly, during the vertical coiling operations, and particularly when recoiling an opened coil back into a tight coil, the strip should track properly and uniformly on the tension drum D.

In order to facilitate this tracking and to develop the necessary tension required in the coiling operations, a relatively large diameter tension drum D is employed which is preferably of a self-centering type such as disclosed in the Edwin T. Lorig United States Patent No. 2,592,581 of April 15, 1952. In this type of self-centering roll or drum a rubber face is employed which is made up of a plurality of flem'ble projections inclined radially inwardly toward the axis of the roll in opposite directions on each side of the transverse center of the roll. Such an arrangement is shown in FIGURE 7 in which the rubber face 56 on drum D has a center slit 71 extending inwardly on a horizontal plane at the transverse center of the drum, a plurality of inclined slits 7 2 above said center slit 71, and a plurality of oppositely inclined slits 73 below the center sli-t 71. In some cases it may be found advantageous to cover the strip engaging outer surface of the rubber face 56 of drum D with a thin non-slitted layer of rubber. This sheath or cover, being thin and resilient, will not interfere with the proper action of the flexible projections formed by the slits 71 and 72 but prevents dirt and other foreign material from getting into the slits and provides a smoother strip engaging surface for the roll. Drum D preferably has an eifective radius somewhat greater than the minimum radius on which the strip is curved in either its tight or opened coil condition. By so limiting the degree of bend given the strip during the open coiling and recoiling operations, bend marks are avoided. Furthermore the radius of drum D is preferably such that the strip is not bent beyond its yield point or elastic limit in passing around the drum.

Although the bottom flange 55 on drum D tends to locate the bottom edge of the strip at the plane of the top face of the turntables T and T, it is desirable, in order to reduce the possibilities of strip edge damage during coiling operations, not to depend entirely on such a flange to support and guide the strip. The action of the slotted face 56 of tension drum D tends to counteract the weight component of the strip as it passes around drum D. Furthermore, the action of the self-centering type face of drum D tends to maintain the lower edge of the strip in a constant plane regardless of tendencies for the edge to creep upwardly or downwardly due to camber or any other reason. In addition to the flange 55 at the bottom of the strip engaging face of drum D a bottom strip edge guide and support in the form of a plate 75 (see FIGURE 1) may be provided and an adjustable top edge guide, generally indicated at H (see FIGURE 6), may be mounted at a suitable point (for example adjacent back-up roll 653). This guide H may be in the form of a roll 76 or other vertically adjustable arm or the like positioned just above the top edge of the particular strip being handled. As illustrated, guide roll 76 is rotatably supported on a block '77 and is disposed in line with and above the path of the strip adjacent to the backup roll 6%. Block 77 is threaded to receive an adjusting screw 78 which in turn is rotatably supported at its ends in brackets 79 and 80 which are mounted on the top plate 42 of the tension drum unit C. A hand wheel 81 is attached to the top end of screw 78 and, as screw 78 is held against vertical movement, rotation of hand wheel 81 and screw 78 will result in corresponding vertical movement of the block '77 and top strip edge guide roll 76. To guide and prevent rotary movement of block 77 during vertical adjustment, rods 32 and 83 extend between brackets 79 and 8t) and pass through suitable holes in the bracket 77. In use the vertical position of roll 76 is adjusted by hand wheel 81 so that the periphery of the roll just engages the top edge of the particular strip being handled. By making this top edge guide H vertically adjustable, it may be set for different strip widths and its action, in cooperation with the self-centering type tension drum and bottom guide 75, is to maintain the strip tracking properly on the drum without appreciable upward or downward creeping thereon.

As is also seen in FIGURE 7, the narrow center strip engaging portion 64 of back-up roll 60 is preferably slotted, in the same manner as drum D, to provide a series of inclined flexible projections on its face. The action of this back-up roll on the opposite side of the strip S assists in the proper tracking of the strip.

The operations of the above described apparatus in forming an opened coil from a tight or hard coil, and in recoiling an opened coil back into a tight or hard coil, will now be described.

To open a tight coil preparatory to opened coil annealing, such a coil as it comes from the rolling mill is placed on turntable T by suitable handling apparatus. Mandrel 10, which may be retracted when the coil is placed on the turntable, is then extended and expanded to properly locate and center the tight coil F on turntable T. By suitable inching control on motor M the outer end of the strip is fed around the drum D, inside of the guide plate 57, past back-up roll 60, through guide rolls 66 and 6S, and is secured in the strip gripper on the expanded mandrel 29 of turntable T. After a single wrap is made around mandrel 29, the spacer cord is inserted between the laps adjacent the top edge of the strip from a suitable cord supply and by suitable cord support and guide means such as disclosed in said Wilson and Corns copending United States patent application Serial No. 639,939. All three motors M, M and M are now started in a direction to cause the turntable T, drum D and turntable T all to rotate in clockwise direction (as seen in FIGURE 1). The linear speed of travel of the strip during the coil opening operation is determined by the speed of rotation of the drum D. The speed of rotation of turntable T is so regulated, and continuously varied, that a constant hold-back or tension will be applied on the length of strip between turntable T and drum D. This tension is maintained at a value sufficient to insure good contact of the strip with the face of drum D. The speed of rotation of turntable T is constantly varied and maintained at such a value that, as the strip is wound around the mandrel 29 With the spacer cord between its laps, there will be only very little tension on the strip between turntable T and drum D. As previously mentioned, if the tension is too great at this point during the coil opening operation, the spacer strand may be gripped so tightly between the convolutions of the coil that it will be difficult or impossible to withdraw same vertically upon completion of the coil opening operation.

After the strip has been completely transferred from turntable T to turntable T, the spacer cord is withdrawn by pulling same vertically upwardly from between the laps, preferably in the manner disclosed in said Wilson and Corns copending United States patent application Serial No. 639,939. Upon completion of this operation, the coil E is in opened condition with the lower edges of its laps supported on the top face 18 of turntable T. Lifting bars are now inserted below the coil in the slots or channels 20, the mandrel 29 is collapsed and the strip gripper released, and the opened coil transferred to the furnace for annealing by forcing heating and cooling gases vertically through the opened laps. A rotary hearth annealing furnace of the type disclosed in the copending Lee Wilson United States patent application Serial No. 733,762, filed May 7, 1958, may advanageously be used for annealing the opened coils.

After the opened coil has been annealed, it is transferred from the furnace back onto the turntable T, the mandrel 29 being collapsed to permit the coil to be positioned thereover. The mandrel is expanded and the outer end of the strip is then fed through the vertical guide rolls 65 and 66, past the back-up roll 60, and

around the tension drum D. When the end of the strip.

reaches turntable T, it is gripped in the extended and expanded mandrel 1i and the motors M, M and M" are operated to drive the turntables and tension drum D in counter-clockwise direction (as seen in FIGURE 1) and carry out the recording operation. As has been previously pointed out, during the recoiling operation no tension should be exerted on the strip as it leaves the opened coil E in order to prevent tightening of the opened coil and sliding engagement of the laps thereof one against the other With possible resulting damage to the surface of the strip. As the speed of strip travel is regulated by the speed of rotation of drum D, the speed of rotation of opened coil turntable T is controlled in a manner which varies in accordance with the varying diameter of coil E so that a no-tension condition exists at all times in the strip between the coil E and the drum D. As seen in FIGURE 1, this no-tension condition is indicated by the loop or belly in the strip between coil E and the guide rolls 65. Such a loop or slack condition is visible evidence that no tension exists in the strip and serves as a check on the operation of the automatic motor speed controls. Suitable manual control may be provided whereby the operator may insure the maintenance of this no-tension condition.

In order to produce a tight wound or hard coil that is substantially in the same condition as coils directly from the strip mill, it is essential that a high tension be imposed on the strip between the turntable T and the drum D. This is accomplished by operating the motor M in such a manner that it will cause the turntable T to pull on the strip S. As the motor M drives drum D at a constant speed, and as the frictional engagement of the strip with the outer face of drum D prevents slipping therebetween, any desired degree of tension may be maintained in strip S by suitably controlling the operation of the drive motors M and M". The speed of turntable T is varied constantly, depending upon the diameter of the coil F as it builds up during the recoiling operation. Control means for the motors M and M" are known in the strip coiling art.

Upon completion of the recoiling operation the tight wound coil on the turntable T may be removed for further processing, etc. by releasing the grip on the end of the strip collapsing and retracting mandrel 10, and lifting the tight coil from turntable T.

In addition to carrying out a coil opening procedure in which a spacer strand or cord is wound into the coil, the apparatus described herein may be used to open coils without the use of a spacer cord. In this procedure the coil that is built up on the opened coil turntable T is made to have the desired space or gap between the convolutions thereof by accurately controlling the differential between the speed of rotation of the tension drum D and the speed of rotation of the turntable T in such a manner that the strip is wound onto the turntable T at a slightly lower rate than it leaves the drum D. This will result in an opened coil having its laps spaced apart and in proper condition for transfer to a furnace for opened coil annealing.

From the above, it will be observed that we have provided a vertical axis strip coiling apparatus which is adapted both for forming an opened coil from a hard or tight wound coil and for recoiling an opened coil back into hard or tight wound form. Our apparatus is adapted for use with coils of varying diameters and of strip widths which may vary from a maximum substantially equal to the axial length of the strip engaging face 56 of drum D down to a width such that the upper edge of the strip comes only slightly above the top edge of the center portion 64 of back-up roll 60. Although we have described the illustrated embodiment of our invention in considerable detail, it will be understood that modifications and variations may be made in the form of the elements making up our improved apparatus without departing from the spirit of our invention. We do not, therefore, wish to be limited to the exact structures herein illustrated and described, but claim as our invention all embodiments coming within the scope of the appended claims.

metal from tight coils and vice versa including, a recoiler turntable supported for rotation in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis, a first variable speed drive means for rotating said recoiler turntable, an uncoiler turntable supported for rotation about a vertical axis in substantially the same horizontal plane as said recoiler turntable, a second variable speed drive means for rotating said uncoiler turntable, a vertical axis tension drum disposed with its axis at one corner of a triangle at the other corners of which are disposed said vertical axes of said recoiler and uncoiler turntables, each angle of said triangle being not greater than 90, variable speed control means for said tension drum, and bottom strip edge guide means between said drum and said uncoiler turntable.

2. Coiling apparatus for forming opened coils of strip metal from tight coils and vice versa including, a recoiler turntable supported for rotation in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis, a first reversible variable speed drive means for rotating said recoiler turntable, an uncoiler turntable supported for rotation about a vertical axis in substantially the same horizontal plane as said recoiler turntable, a second independent reversible variable speed drive means for rotating said uncoiler turntable, a vertical axis tension drum disposed with its axis at one corner of a triangle at the other corners of Which are disposed said vertical axes of said recoiler and uncoiler turntables, each angle of said triangle being not greater than 90, and reversible variable speed drive means for rotating said tension drum.

3. Coiling apparatus for forming opened coils of strip metal from tight coils and vice versa including, a recoiler turntable supported for rotation in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis, a first variable speed drive means for rotating said recoiler turntable, an uncoiler turntable supported for rotation about a vertical axis in substantially the same horizontal plane as said recoiler turntable, a second independent variable speed drive means for rotating said uncoiler turntable, a vertical axis tension drum disposed with its axis at one corner of a triangle at the other corners of which are disposed said vertical axes of said recoiler and uncoiler turntables, each angle of said triangle being not greater than 90, variable speed control means for said tension drum, and means for independently controlling said variable speed control means whereby the tension of strip passing from a coil on one of said turntables around said tension drum to a coil on the other of said turntables may be adjusted so that different tension conditions are maintained in the strip between said one turntable and said drum and between said other turntable and said drum.

4. Coiling apparatus for forming opened coils of strip metal from tight coils and vice versa including, a recoiler turntable supported for rotation in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis, a first reversible variable speed drive means for rotating said recoiler turntable, an uncoiler turntable supported for rotation about a vertical axis in substantially the same horizontal plane as said recoiler turntable, a second independent reversible variable speed drive means for rotating said uncoiler turntable, a vertical axis tension drum disposed with its axis at one corner of a triangle at the other corners of which are disposed said vertical axes of said recoiler and uncoiler turntables, each angle of said triangle being not greater than 90, reversible variable speed drive means for rotating said tension drum, and means for independently controlling said variable speed drive means whereby the tension of strip passing from a coil on one of said turntables around said tension drum to a coil on the other of said turntables may be adjusted so that difierent tension conditions are maintained in the strip between said one turntable and said drum and between said other turntable and said drum.

5. Coiling apparatus for forming opened coils of strip metal from tight coils and vice versa including, a recoiler turntable supported for rotation in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis, a first variable speed drive means for rotating said recoiler turntable, an uncoiler turntable supported for rotation about a vertical axis in substantially the same horizontal plane as said recoiler turntable, a second independent variable speed drive means for rotating said uncoiler turntable, a vertical axis tension drum disposed with its axis at one corner of a triangle at the other corners of which are disposed said vertical axes of said recoiler and uncoiler turntables, each angle of said triangle being not greater than and variable speed control means for said tension drum, both of said turntables and said drum being rotatable only in the same direction at any given time whereby strip being coiled is bent in the same direction on each coil and around said drum.

6. Coiling apparatus for forming opened coils of strip metal from tight coils and vice versa including, a recoiler turntable supported for rotation in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis, a first reversible variable speed drive means for rotating said recoiler turntable, an uncoiler turntable supported for rotation about a vertical axis in substantially the same horizontal plane as said recoiler turntable, a second independent reversible variable speed drive means for rotating said uncoiler turntable, a vertical axis tension drum disposed with its axis at one corner of a triangle at the other corners of which are disposed said vertical axes of said recoiler and uncoiler turntables, each angle of said triangle being not greater than 90, and reversible variable speed drive means for rotating said tension drum, both of said turntables and said drum being driveable only in the same direction at any given time whereby strip being coiled is bent in the same direction on each coil and around said drum.

7. Apparatus for uncoiling a tight wound coil into an opened coil and recoiling an opened coil into a tight coil including a rotatable tight coil turntable having a vertical axis, variable speed driving means for said tight coil turntable, a rotatable opened coil turntable having a vertical axis, each of said turntables having coil supporting surfaces disposed substantially in the same horizontal plane, independent variable speed driving means for each of said opened coil turntable, a rotatable tension drum having a vertical axis spaced from a line through the vertical axes of said tight coil and opened coil turntables, a distance such that strip passing from a coil on one of said turntables to a coil on the other of said turntables around said tension drum will contact said drum over at least 90 of the circumference thereof, the diameter of said tension drum and its spacing from said turntables being such that a strip being transferred from a coil on one turntable to a coil on the other turntable and passing over said tension drum is bent less at said drum than the maximum bend given the strip in its open or tight coil form, and variable speed control means for said tension drum.

8. Apparatus for uncoiling a tight wound coil into an opened coil and recoiling an opened coil into a tight wound coil including, a rotatable tight coil turntable having a vertical axis, variable speed driving means for said tight coil turntable, a rotatable opened coil turntable having a vertical aixs, said turntables having coil supporting surfaces disposed substantially in the same horizontal plane, independent variable speed driving means for said opened coil turntable, a rotatable tension drum having a vertical axis spaced from a line through the vertical axes of said tight coil and opened coil turntables a distance such that strip passing from a coil on one of said turntables to a coil on the other of said turntables around said tension drum will contact said drum over at least 90 of the circumference thereof, the diameter of said tension drum and its spacing from said turntables being such that a strip being transferred from a coil on one turntable to a coil on the other turntable and passing over said tension drum is bent less at said drum than the maximum bend given the strip in its open or tight coil form, variable speed control means for said tension drum, and a vertical axis back-up roll adjacent said tension drum.

9. Apparatus for uncoiling a tight wound coil into an opened coil and recoiling an opened coil into a tight Wound coil including a rotatable tight coil turntable having a vertical axis, variable speed driving means for said tight coil turntable, a rotatable opened coil turntable having a vertical axis, said turntables having coil supporting surfaces disposed substantially in the same horizontal plane, variable speed driving means for said opened coil turntable, a rotatable tension drum having a vertical axis spaced from a line through the vertical axes of said tight coil and opened coil turntables a distance such that strip passing from a coil on one of said turntables to a coil on the other of said turntables around said tension drum will contact said drum over at least 90 of the circumference thereof, and variable speed control means for said tension drum, the strip engaging face of said tension drum being rubber covered and said rubber covering having a plurality of spaced apart horizontally extending independent circumferential slits extending inwardly and being inclined in one direction relative to the vertical axis of the drum above the transverse center of said face and in the opposite direction below said transverse center.

10. Apparatus for uncoiling a tight wound coil into an opened coil and recoiling an opened coil into a tight wound coil including a rotatable tight coil turntable having a vertical axis, variable speed driving means for said tight coil turntable, a rotatable opened coil turntable having a vertical axis, each of said turntables having coil supporting surfaces disposed substantially in the same horizontal plane, variable speed driving means for said opened coil turntable, a rotatable tension drum having a vertical axis spaced from a line through the vertical axes of said tight coil and opened coil turntables a distance such that strip passing from a coil on one of said turntables to a coil on the other of said turntables around said tension drum will contact said drum over at least 90 of the circumference thereof, variable speed control means for said tension drum, and a vertical axis back-up roll adjacent said tension drum, the strip engaging face of said tension drurn being rubber covered and said rubber covering having a plurality of spaced apart horizontally extending independent circumferential slits extending inwardly and being inclined in one direction relative to the vertical axis of the drum above the transverse center of said face and in the opposite direction below said transverse center.

11. Apparatus for uncoiling a tight wound coil into an opened coil and recoiling an opened coil into a tight wound coil including a rotatable tight coil turntable having a vertical axis, variable speed driving means for said tight coil turntable, a rotatable opened coil turntable having a vertical axis, each of said turntables having coil supporting surfaces disposed substantially in the same horizontal plane, variable speed driving means for said opened coil turntable, a rotatable tension drum having a vertical axis spaced from a line through the vertical axes of said tight coil and opened coil turntables a distance such that strip passing from a coil on one of said turntables to a coil on the other of said turntables around said tension drum will contact said drum over at least 90 of the circumference thereof, variable speed control means for said tension drum, and a vertical axis back-up roll adjacent said tension drum, the strip engaging face of said tension drum being rubber covered and said rubber covering having a plurality of spaced apart horizontally extending independent circumferential slits extending inwardly and being inclined in one direction relative to the vertical axis of the drum above the transverse center of said face and in the opposite direction below said transverse center, and said back-up roll having a rubber covered strip engaging portion shorter in vertical length than said strip engaging face of said tension drum, the transverse center of said strip engaging portion of said back-up roll lying substantially in the same horizontal plane as the transverse center of said strip engaging face of said tension drum.

12. Strip coiling apparatus for forming opened coils from tight coils and vice versa comprising a pair of vertical axis coil supporting turntables, each having a coil supporting surface, said coil supporting surfaces lying in the same horizontal plane and said turntables being disposed closely adjacent each other, a vertical axis tension drum supported in closely adjacent relation to said turntables, the vertical axes of said turntables and tension dnim being arranged in acute triangular relation, independent variable speed drive means for each of said turntables and said drum, and strip gripping mandrel means extending up at the center of each of said turntables, said drive means being operable to rotate said turntables and drum simultaneously all in one direction or simultaneously all in the opposite direction whereby a coil of strip metal on either of said turntables may be transferred to the other turntable, the diameter of said tension drum being such that a strip being transferred from one turntable to the other is at all times bent therearound on a radius greater than the radius of said mandrel means.

13. Apparatus for uncoiling a tight wound coil into an opened coil and recoiling an opened coil into a tight wound coil including a rotatable tight coil turntable having a vertical axis, variable speed driving means for said tight coil turntable, a rotatable opened coil turntable having a vertical axis, variable speed driving means for said opened coil turntable, said turntables having coil supporting surfaces disposed substantially in the same horizontal plane, a rotatable tension drum having a vertical axis and a strip engaging face both disposed in spaced relation to a line through the vertical axes of said tight coil and opened coil turntables, and variable speed control means for said tension drum, said drum having a self-centering rubber strip engaging face.

14. Apparatus for uncoiling a tight wound coil into an opened coil and recoiling an opened coil into a tight wound coil including a rotatable tight coil turntable having a vertical axis, a first variable speed driving means for said tight coil turntable, a rotatable opened coil turntable having a vertical axis, a second independent variable speed driving means for said opened coil turntable, said turntables having coil supporting surfaces disposed substantially in the same horizontal plane, and a rotatable tension roll having a vertical axis and a strip engaging face both disposed in spaced relation to a line through the vertical axes of said tight coil and opened coil turntables, said tension roll having a selfcentering strip engaging face.

15. Apparatus for uncoiling a tight wound coil into an opened coil and recoiling an opened coil into a tight wound coil including a rotatable tight coil turntable having a vertical axis, variable speed driving means for said tight coil turntable, a rotatable opened coil turntable having a vertical axis, variable speed driving means for said opened coil turntable, said turntables having coil supporting surfaces disposed substantially in the same horizontal plane, a rotatable tension drum having a vertical axis and a strip engaging face both disposed in spaced relation to a line through the vertical axes of said tight coil and opened coil turntables, variable speed control means for said tension drum, said drum having a self-centering rubber strip engaging face and bottom strip edge guide means spaced from said drum.

16. Apparatus for uncoiling a tight wound coil into an opened coil and recoiling an opened coil into a tight wound coil including a rotatable tight coil turntable having a vertical axis, variable speed driving means for said tight coil turntable, a rotatable opened coil turntable having a vertical axis, variable speed driving means for said opened coil turntable, said turntables having coil supporting surfaces disposed substantially in the same horizontal plane, a rotatable tension drum having a vertical axis and a strip engaging face both disposed in spaced relation to a line through the vertical axes of said tight coil and opened coil turntables, variable speed control means for said tension drum, bottom strip edge guide means disposed between said drum and said opened coil turntable and a vertically adjustable upper strip edge guide adapted to be positioned adjacent the upper edge of a strip passing around said tension drum.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,869,004 Bedell et a1 July 26, 1932 2,060,672 Heymann Nov. 10, 1936 2,071,192 Younts Feb. 16, 1937 2,592,581 Lorig Apr. 15, 1952 10 2,717,037 Goodwillie Sept. 6, 1955 

